Yesterday was my last hurrah for the winter break. I opted for an oldy but a goody, Mt. Otake* in western Tokyo.
*Otake="Big Peak". There are approximately 5 billion mountains with this name in Japan. It's confusing.
Mt. Otake is one of the mountains that got me hooked on mountains. It is quite prominent and is visible from my home--and from a million other places.
It's become a meaningful place for me--if a little bit boring now because I've been up and down it from every possible way. I've climbed it with my son, a nephew, the friend who was my best man, and with other friends as well as alone. Yesterday was my 8th time.
Otake, sticking up the way it does first enticed me to climb it several years ago. I think my first time up it was a challenge. I was a chain-smoker and lived a very sedentary life. I was also on a steady diet of McDonald's. The first few times up, I took the shortest, easiest routes.
In time, the mountains around it also gained my attention. In particular, there are two little bumps that look a bit like camel's humps to the south (left). The first time they really spurred my attention was when I saw the sun set between them from Akigawa Station one night. That was just serendipity that I caught that sight. That made me wonder what they are called. (Mazukari/"Horse Head Hunt" and Tsurashi/"Crane Leg").
Eventually, I got the idea to walk all along the profile of the mountains I
was seeing as I looked west. It seemed like a gargantuan undertaking when I first conceived it. Since then, I've done it several times. Yesterday was the most complete trek though. I went from Musashi Itsukaichi Station in the southeast to Okutama Station in the northwest.
Getting there/getting around: For this hike, I just used trains. I went from the terminal of one line, Musashi Itsukaichi Station, to the terminal of another line, Okutama Station. Most people who hike Mt. Otake from Musashi Itsukaichi Station take a bus from the station to one of several trailheads before starting. My route meant that I was walking on pavement for the first 5 kilometers or so.
Elevation: Lowest: 178m Highest: 1,266m Total Ascent: 1,816m Total Descent: 1,662m
Technical considerations/difficulty: Although these are not very high mountains, they do offer a challenge to people who have come for a one-off day in the mountains. I did notice quite a few more hikers huffing and puffing on the trail yesterday than I do most days on other mountains--even really challenging ones. I think it's probably because Otake is close enough to downtown to attract daytrippers that don't spend any time to speak of on the trails to come for the odd hike. For a reference point that many will understand, the ascent to Otake is more than twice that up Takao from the bottom, ie, not taking the cable car.
This area is all well under the tree line and not very exposed. There are very few chains or ladders except on the last portion. From Nokogiri to Okutama Station, the are some steep spots with lots of chains.
Facilities: No public restrooms, waterholes or commercial enterprises.
Thoughts/observations/recommendations: Otake is a great place to make a memory. Since it is so prominent, it is visible from just about anywhere--including downtown Tokyo. If you would like to climb it, but don't want to go on a death march, try going up from Mitake. Below the Mitake Shrine, there is a cable car accessible by bus from Mitake Station on the Okutama Line. From that cable car station to the top of Otake would be just a few hours roundtrip. While you're in the area, you can drop by the very popular and picturesque Mitake Shrine and walk by the Rock Garden and see a few really nice falls. Around the cable car and near the shrine there are plenty of opportunities to buy souvenirs or grab a meal in a restaurant. I taught in Akiruno for many years and one of my former students lives in that neighborhood by the shrine. They run an inn. I always got a kick out of the fact that his commute to school began with a cable car. Sometimes he would miss school because of snow around Mitake even though it was clear down below.
Here's what the map looked like:
This is where I started, Musashi Itsukaichi Station.
Incidentally, there are bicycles for rent across the street at 東京裏山ベース. I've never been in that place, but have bicycled a lot in the area and recommend it highly.
Took this from a bridge while still walking on the street . . .
From the station, I walked along the Route 33 as far as the Jurigi intersection and turned right. This guy is standing guard of 十里木ランド (Jurigi Land)--a BBQ/fishing spot on the river. (Never been there either.) Jurigi Land
This is where I started to get closer to the trail. This is the Komiya Education Center (小宮ふさと自然体験学校). It's a former elementary school.
After a bit more on the pavement . . . I finally turned in to the woods at this temple. 明光院
It was a gorgeous day.
I chuckled to see Oyama remembering I've already been up it 3 times this month.
There are some great rocks along the way. One is called Tsuzuru Iwa (Tsuzuru Boulder) and attracts many climbers. I'd like to climb it someday but don't have any ropes. Anyone out there have equipment want to take me?
This spot is called Fujimidai, "富士見台." Fuji+view+pedestal. Just about every town within 100 miles of Mt. Fuji has a section called "Fujimi."
That is Mt. Gozen. It's actually higher than Otake so I don't know why it looks lower.
Two years ago tonight I spent a very cold snowy night on top of Gozen.
On the last leg of the trek, just before Mt. Atago, I detoured onto the 登計トレール-- Toke Trail where it intersected my trail. I was happy to try this route. I remember Mt. Atago from past excursions. It ends the hike with a long, steep stone stairway that gives me vertigo. :-) Also, after being in this area so many times, I was happy to tread on a road I've never trod.
The Toke Trail morphed into the 奥多摩森林セラペーロード , (Okutama Forest Therapy Road). That is a project of a foundation in Okutama town for the promotion of health and well-being. There's information here in Japanese if you're interested. Feel free to puzzle through it with google translate if you like. It looks like they have some kind of guided tours for weary Tokyoites from downtown. Okutama Therapy Tours
The Forest Therapy Road has many unusual resting spots and even a few stylish buildings (locked that day) with fire places.
The parking lot of the Forest Therapy Road had all this swag in a chokubai (direct-selling) stand. They are very trusting. That's a lot of merchandise! It was good stuff, too. And cheap.
The destination. Okutama Station.
That's all for today. There will be a quiz later. I hope you paid attention.
Thanks for dropping by the cave. I'll be back in a few weeks. Stay warm.
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